However, Higgins also sees a downside to Okafor signing a one-year qualifying offer.

“Our comfort level probably wouldn't be so good. You'd have him for a year,” before Okafor could leave without compensation next summer, Higgins said.

Higgins was addressing a report in Tuesday's Observer that negotiations with Okafor reached an impasse. A source familiar with the negotiations said the Bobcats are offering less now than they did a summer ago and Okafor now prefers a sign-and-trade to another NBA franchise.

“We're still holding out hope that we can get a (long-term) deal done with Emeka,” said Higgins.

“We talk to his representatives. We last saw Emeka around draft night (in late June). We've never heard from him that he doesn't want to be here.”

Last summer, the Bobcats made Okafor a multi-year offer that would have averaged over $12million per season. Okafor declined that proposal in October, playing out the season to reach restricted free agency.

A source familiar with the situation said the Bobcats are now offering Okafor something closer to $10million a season. Higgins declined comment on the negotiations.

Under NBA rules, the Bobcats were required to offer Okafor a one-year contract (worth about $7million) to designate him a restricted free agent. That would allow the Bobcats to match another NBA team's offer to him this summer. With salary-cap room drying up around the NBA, the chances of Okafor receiving an offer sheet appear slim. So the only way Okafor could sign long-term elsewhere would be via sign-and-trade.

Higgins didn't sound receptive to that alternative.

“When you do a trade, you want to do something that makes sense for all involved,” said Higgins, adding that the NBA's base-year compensation rule would make it difficult to receive fair value.

If Okafor receives a big raise in a new contract, the team acquiring him in trade would have to absorb about twice as much money under its salary cap as the Bobcats could take back. That would make it tough for the Bobcats to get talent comparable to what they'd lose in a starting center.

Higgins said resolving other personnel issues – such as whether to add another veteran big man – is probably on hold until the Okafor issue is settled.

Note

Reserve center Ryan Hollins re-signed Friday. Based on salary-cap rules, Hollins' one-year qualifying offer is worth about $1million this season.

With Hollins and first-round picks D.J. Augustin and Alexis Ajinca signed, the Bobcats now have 12 players under contract. Okafor and second-round pick Kyle Weaver have yet to sign. Higgins plans to invite a couple of summer-league players to training camp in October.

Under NBA collective-bargaining rules, Hollins will make about $1 million in this, his third NBA season.

Despite being a restricted free agent, Hollins played for the Bobcats' summer-league team in Las Vegas this month. He said then he planned to accept the Bobcats' offer, in part so that he could play for new coach Larry Brown.

Atlanta had offered him a five-year, $33million contract. But the Hawks' slow-paced negotiating tactics and the limits of restricted free agency, combined with what Childress called Wednesday the “opportunity of a lifetime,” resulted in his decision.

Whether others follow remains to be seen.

“I've talked with a few guys and it could become a trend,” said Childress, whose net pay from Olympiakos will be $20million.

One Greek newspaper reported that representatives for at least two other players contacted Olympiakos to let the team know that if Childress declined, they'd be interested in the same offer.

Childress finished sixth in the voting for the NBA's Sixth Man award.

L.A. CLIPPERS: Los Angeles acquired Jason Hart, 30, from Utah for former Charlotte Bobcat Brevin Knight in a swap of point guards. Hart, also a former Bobcat, averaged 10.6 minutes in 57 games for the Jazz last season. Knight, 32, averaged 4.6 points, 4.4 assists and 22.6 minutes in 74 games last season. He finished second in the NBA with a 4.62-1 assists-to-turnover ratio.

MINNESOTA:Sebastian Telfair signed a two-year deal that includes a player option for a third season. He averaged 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists.

NEW ORLEANS:James Posey, a reserve on Boston's championship team last season and Miami's two seasons before that, signed a four-year, $25million contract. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 74 regular-season games for Boston. In nine seasons with five teams, Posey's averaged 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds.

James landed on Kevin Durant's foot during a scrimmage between Team USA and a select squad of young NBA players.

James, who did not speak to reporters, was reclining on a table behind the bench when reporters were admitted to practice at Valley High School. Trainers wrapped the ankle in a black brace, and James hobbled off the court. Associated Press

Hamstring injury sidelines jumper

Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson pulled out of the Beijing Games because of a hamstring injury he sustained Tuesday night.

Olsson, also a former world champion, pulled a muscle in his fourth jump at the DN Galan meet at Olympic Stadium. He finished third with a jump of 55 feet, 9 1/4 inches that he recorded in the second round.

Olsson told Swedish radio “there is no chance” he will compete in the Olympics.

The 28-year-old Swede has been injured often since winning the gold medal in Athens.

Tuesday's competition was his first after a long break. Associated Press

Gymnastics judge to appeal sanction

Rhythmic gymnastics judge Irina Deriugina on Monday will appeal the ban that would keep her from both the Beijing and London Olympics.

Deriugina will appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal her punishment for breaching five points of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) code. She has been banned from judging until 2012, but she is still allowed to coach. FIG initially banned her for eight years, but she appealed. Associated Press

The Warriors, who lost Baron Davis to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency, traded a conditional first-round draft pick to the Nets for Williams, a first-round pick in 2006.

Williams averaged 5.9 points and 2.6 assists in 53 games with the Nets last season after missing the first 23 games with a broken right foot. He made the NBA's all-rookie second team in 2007 after a three-year career at Connecticut.

“Marcus is a good young ballplayer with outstanding skills,” Nets president Rod Thorn said. “This transaction allows us to acquire another future asset, and we wish Marcus the best in his basketball future.”

Monta Ellis is expected to become Golden State's starting point guard in the upcoming season, but the only other point guard on the Warriors' roster after Davis' departure was unproven youngster C.J. Watson.

CHARLOTTE: An MRI exam confirmed the Charlotte Bobcats' initial diagnosis that rookie center Alexis Ajinca has a sprained left knee, and not a more serious knee injury requiring surgery. Ajinca suffered the injury last week, during a summer-league game in Las Vegas.

PHOENIX: Well-traveled sharpshooter Matt Barnes signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

“He has a chance to have a big impact on our team,” Suns general manager Steve Kerr said. “His athleticism and versatility at both ends of the court will be important for us, along with his playoff experience.”

SAN ANTONIO: The San Antonio Spurs re-signed Kurt Thomas on Tuesday, getting the veteran forward under contract after trading for him in February.

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed but Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said Thomas will be with the team at least two seasons.

The 6-foot-9 Thomas, a 14-year veteran, was unavailable for comment.

This one is essential. And it can't be predicated on money. If the Bobcats are willing to throw some around, we will know that Michael Jordan and new coach Larry Brown are in charge. If they aren't, we will know owner Bob Johnson is.

To attract fans, the Bobcats have to make a run at the playoffs next season. They can't do that unless they run. They can't run unless they start the fast break with a rebound. If Okafor leaves, who will start the fast break?

I'd love to see Sean May do it. I like May. He has superior basketball instincts and he returns telephone calls. But the Bobcats can't rely on May any more than the Carolina Panthers could rely on linebacker Dan Morgan. Some players are hurt most of the time.

Okafor, a restricted free agent, did not miss a game last season. He turned down a contract worth about $60million from the Bobcats nine months ago. That was superstar money, NBA All-Star money. Okafor is neither.

The Bobcats have two options. They can sign him and trade him, or they can sign him and play him. If they choose the latter, they have to hope he decides he wants to remain part of the organization or that a contender makes an offer before the trade deadline.

Otherwise, Okafor can walk. Elton Brand did. He left the Los Angeles Clippers to sign with Philadelphia. All the Clippers got was a goodbye.

If the Bobcats are able to trade Okafor for a comparable talent, do it. If Brown prefers long and lean athletes who can range far from the basket to guard an opponent, get one. If Brown has concluded his is not a playoff team, use Okafor as a tool to make it a team that is.

Okafor does not sell tickets. Nobody has ever become so mesmerized by one of his moves that they spilled a beer. He is a bright man, a reader and a traveler, and he is analytical. The N.C. motto is to be, rather than to seem. Okafor's is to think, rather than to react.

He reacted quickly enough to average 10.7 rebounds a game last season, however. That was sixth-best in the NBA. Twenty teams didn't have a player who averaged 10 or more rebounds.

Okafor had the misfortune to come into the league with Dwight Howard and the two forever will be linked. Howard is the dominant big man of his time.

Okafor is solid. I can't remember a single move he has put on during his four seasons in Charlotte. I also can't remember a single game in which he failed to go hard. He is there every night, and he brings his 10 rebounds with him.

Brown's first test as Charlotte coach was the NBA draft, and he nailed it. Be interesting to see if he gets to ace his second.

Negotiations between Okafor and the Bobcats are at an impasse, an informed source told the Observer, with the team offering less now than the $12million-plus annual salary it did a year ago. A restricted free agent, center-forward Okafor now wants a sign-and-trade to another team, the source said, and is not inclined to remain with the Bobcats long-term.

Okafor's alternative would be signing a one-year qualifying offer with Charlotte, worth roughly $7million, then becoming an unrestricted free agent in July 2009.

In that scenario, he could end up signing with another NBA team without the Bobcats receiving compensation for losing the second overall pick in the 2004 draft.

Bobcats management declined comment Monday through spokesman B.J. Evans. General manager Rod Higgins said repeatedly in Las Vegas during this month's summer league that his intent was to retain Okafor long-term.

This impasse is risky for both sides. The Bobcats could lose their best big man, the original cornerstone of the franchise. Okafor averaged a double-double last season (13.8 points., 10.7 rebounds), one of a handful of NBA players to do so. He also led the Bobcats in shots blocked (1.68 per game) and field-goal percentage (53.5 percent).

While he might not be the Bobcats' best player (Jason Richardson averaged 21.8 points), he could be the hardest to replace, as new coach Larry Brown recently acknowledged.

On a team traditionally hurting for defense and rebounding, Okafor is among the NBA's top goalies at the rim.

However, the risk is also Okafor's: If he's unsuccessful in coaxing the Bobcats into a sign-and-trade, he'd play next season for far less than the $12million-plus annual salary the Bobcats offered a year ago.

For the second year in a row, he'd risk injury without a long-term contract (although he was durable enough last season to play all 82 games).

Also, changing teams outside of a trade would sacrifice Okafor's Bird rights, lowering the maximum salary and guaranteed years a team could offer under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.

Regardless, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the negotiations' sensitivity, described Okafor as “prideful” – as in resolute.

If Okafor left, the Bobcats' best alternative at center might be Nazr Mohammed. Sean May could also be a factor inside, if he has recovered from microfracture surgery on his right knee.

Okafor, believed to be in New York this summer, could not be reached for comment.

In April, Okafor said he'd like to remain a Bobcat, noting he was the expansion team's first-ever draft pick. However, there were earlier signs he had misgivings.

First, he turned down a deal worth roughly $60million last October. Then, after a game in Utah on March 25 (his fourth straight playing less than 30 minutes), Okafor said he wasn't sure he'd remain a Bobcat.

He had a strained relationship with then-coach Sam Vincent, but firing Vincent and hiring Brown didn't change the contract issues.

Okafor is one of several high picks from the 2004 draft class who haven't signed contract extensions with their original teams. Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Childress is reportedly considering playing in Greece. Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Chicago's Luol Deng and Ben Gordon also remain unsigned.

Note

The Bobcats said rookie center Alexis Ajinca suffered a left knee sprain Saturday during a summer-league game. Ajinca had an MRI in Charlotte, but results won't be evaluated until at least today.

Officials of the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics said Sunday they have concluded the first phase of a season ticket request list. Those on the list signed up in just 16 days.

Team officials are pleased with the level of support for the NBA in Oklahoma City.

The ticket request list remains open for future ticket opportunities, depending on availability.

Associated press

Kevin Love was held out of the Minnesota Timberwolves' summer league game in Las Vegas for precautionary reasons with an inflamed left Achilles.

He left during the second half of Saturday's game with the same injury, which team official don't consider severe.

Love was expected to practice later Sunday with the U.S. national team at a local high school. He was added to the select team Saturday as an extra body for practice in preparation for the Olympics.

Tennis

Fourth-seeded Pauline Parmentier won the Gastein Ladies final in Bad Gastein, Austria, beating Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-4.

It was Parmentier's second WTA Tour title after winning in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, last year.

Gilles Simon won the Indianapolis Tennis Championships, beating Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 6-4.

Simon, seeded second and ranked 25th, won his fourth title. He had not reached an ATP semifinal in the United States before this tournament.

Qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak became the first Canadian to win a WTA Tour singles title in 20 years, taking an advantage of an injury to Marion Bartoli to win the Bank of the West Classic 7-5, 6-3 in Stanford, Calif.

Wozniak, 20, needed to win eight matches – including three qualifiers – in nine days to become the first Canadian since Jill Hetherington at Wellington in February 1988 to win a women's singles title.

Top-seeded Fernando Verdasco needed nearly three hours to beat Igor Andreev, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the ATP Croatia Open final in Umag, Croatia.

It's the second ATP title for the Spaniard – adding to his victory in Valencia in 2004 – and came on his on his first trip to Umag.

Horse racing

Belmont Park in New York canceled its Sunday card because of ongoing power problems.

A basement transformer fire shut down the grandstand Saturday but racing continued with fans consolidated into the clubhouse.

Key areas of the track still lacked electricity Sunday, causing the cancellation of the final day of the meet.

Racing will shift to Saratoga on Wednesday for six weeks, allowing time to complete the electrical repairs before Belmont resumes in September.

Soccer

Chivas goalkeeper Luis Michel broke his left forearm during a Superliga game and will miss the Mexican Apertura league season.

Michel was injured Saturday night when he went for a rebound and was hit by Gabriel Pereyra during the 89th minute against Atlante in San Jose, Calif.

NFL

Defensive end Chris Long agreed to a multiyear deal with the St. Louis Rams, leaving plenty of time for the second overall pick in the draft to report to training camp.

The Rams project Long will start at right end, beefing up an anemic pass rush. The team did not disclose the terms of the deal.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on its Web site Saturday night that the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long was expected to sign a deal that covers at least five years.

St. Louis also agreed to terms on a three-year contract with seventh-round pick Chris Chamberlain, a linebacker from Tulsa.

WNBA

Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 22 points and Alana Beard tied a career-high with nine assists as the host Washington Mystics, in their first game following a coaching change, snapped the Seattle Storm's seven-game winning streak with a 89-57 win.

Asjha Jones had 23 points and 10 rebounds to help the host Connecticut Sun snap a five-game losing streak with a 74-67 win against the Chicago Sky.

Kara Lawson's tie-breaking jumper with 39 seconds left helped Sacramento become the first team to win at Detroit this season, as they beat the Shock 88-85.

Triathlon

A 32-year-old man died during the New York City triathlon, the first death in the eight-year history of the event.

Race director Bill Burke said other competitors alerted medical personnel to the man during the 1,500-meter swim in the Hudson River, and he was unconscious when he was pulled from the water just before 8a.m.

Burke said the man's family was in Argentina, and he wasn't being identified by race officials until they were contacted. Observer news services

Now that he's a millionaire player for the Charlotte Bobcats, he sits front and center at North Carolina each summer – eyes fixed on his professor, another goal in sight.

“Now that I've got to pay for it, now that I'm so close to graduating, I make sure I'm right in front of the teacher, paying attention and taking notes,” he said. “But I've had so many of my classmates ask, ‘What are you doing here?' and ‘Are you really you?'”

Can you really blame them?

May and Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams are the latest former Tar Heels to trade their pro playbooks for steno notebooks each offseason, taking courses in hopes of getting their degrees.

“I think it's so funny when I see them with their backpacks – guys making a pretty good living – walking across campus,” North Carolina assistant coach Joe Holladay said. “I'm proud of them.”

When May and Williams jumped to the NBA early after the 2005 national championship season, each promised coach Roy Williams he would return to earn his diploma – following in the heels of former North Carolina players Michael Jordan, James Worthy, J.R. Reid, Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison.

And they're getting closer.

May, a rising senior when he was drafted 13th overall by the Bobcats, now only needs four credits – a geology class and lab – to reach that goal. After taking a statistics course on campus this summer, he opted to skip UNC's second summer session to concentrate on his basketball camp and attend summer league games in Las Vegas. But he plans to finish up next spring.

Williams, a rising sophomore when he was drafted second overall, is now a junior in academic standing. After taking Swahili during UNC's first summer session and finishing an independent study course over the coming months, he plans to have 71 credits completed by the time the fall semester begins. Students at North Carolina need at least 120 credits to graduate.

Both are pursuing degrees in African-American history.

“Every summer, at least one person asks me, ‘Why are you here?'” said Williams, who averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds during the Hawks' regular season. “I say, ‘Why not?' It's something you started, so why not finish it? A lot of guys say that they're going to come back and do it, and I know myself: If I would have stopped, I would have never started again. So I just keep trying to keep going, keep going, until it's done.”

Seeing early-entry NBA players return for their diplomas is becoming more common.

The NCAA doesn't keep specific data on that subject. But at Duke, Mike Dunleavy, who was drafted third overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2002, is now a graduate. And according to a team spokesman, Olympic team member Carlos Boozer, who also declared early in 2002, plans to be in Durham the next two summers to finish up.

In Chapel Hill, returning to class has become a long-standing tradition. Besides May and Williams, Bobcats point guard Raymond Felton, who also left early after the 2005 season, has taken some correspondence courses. Holladay also is hopeful that Rashad McCants and Brandan Wright – the other players who have left early since Roy Williams became coach in 2003 – eventually will graduate, as well.

“When you've got youngsters thinking about going pro early, and they see guys like Marvin and Sean come back … I think it plants a seed that carries on, so it does nothing but help our program,” Holladay said. “Those are just special kids. I know they know about Vince Carter coming back, Antawn coming back, Michael Jordan coming back, J.R. Reid…”

Knowing that history, though, doesn't make rolling out of bed for a 9a.m. class easier now than it was three years ago, May and Williams agreed.

It has helped that they have been Chapel Hill roommates each summer since they turned pro – working out at the Smith Center each morning before schlepping to their respective classes, pushing each other to get their work and workouts complete.

The electronics in their apartment have been upgraded since they were full-time students (pro paychecks tend to do that), but the homework hasn't changed much, either.

“We were sitting there the other night,” May said, laughing, “and I was thinking, ‘Man, this is crazy. We're in the NBA, and Marv's writing flash cards.'“

When Sean May was a star forward at North Carolina, he often could be found slouched in the back of his classes, just trying to get through his seminars and to the next Tar Heels practice.

Now that he's a millionaire player for the Charlotte Bobcats, he sits front and center at North Carolina each summer – eyes fixed on his professor, another goal in sight.

“Now that I've got to pay for it, now that I'm so close to graduating, I make sure I'm right in front of the teacher, paying attention and taking notes,” he said. “But I've had so many of my classmates ask, ‘What are you doing here?' and ‘Are you really you?'”

Can you really blame them?

May and Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams are the latest former Tar Heels to trade their pro playbooks for steno notebooks each offseason, taking courses in hopes of getting their degrees.

“I think it's so funny when I see them with their backpacks – guys making a pretty good living – walking across campus,” North Carolina assistant coach Joe Holladay said. “I'm proud of them.”

When May and Williams jumped to the NBA early after the 2005 national championship season, each promised coach Roy Williams he would return to earn his diploma – following in the heels of former North Carolina players Michael Jordan, James Worthy, J.R. Reid, Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison.

And they're getting closer.

May, a rising senior when he was drafted 13th overall by the Bobcats, now only needs four credits – a geology class and lab – to reach that goal. After taking a statistics course on campus this summer, he opted to skip UNC's second summer session to concentrate on his basketball camp and attend summer league games in Las Vegas. But he plans to finish up next spring.

Williams, a rising sophomore when he was drafted second overall, is now a junior in academic standing. After taking Swahili during UNC's first summer session and finishing an independent study course over the coming months, he plans to have 71 credits completed by the time the fall semester begins. Students at North Carolina need at least 120 credits to graduate.

Both are pursuing degrees in African-American history.

“Every summer, at least one person asks me, ‘Why are you here?'” said Williams, who averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds during the Hawks' regular season. “I say, ‘Why not?' It's something you started, so why not finish it? A lot of guys say that they're going to come back and do it, and I know myself: If I would have stopped, I would have never started again. So I just keep trying to keep going, keep going, until it's done.”

Seeing early-entry NBA players return for their diplomas is becoming more common.

The NCAA doesn't keep specific data on that subject. But at Duke, Mike Dunleavy, who was drafted third overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2002, is now a graduate. And according to a team spokesman, Olympic team member Carlos Boozer, who also declared early in 2002, plans to be in Durham the next two summers to finish up.

In Chapel Hill, returning to class has become a long-standing tradition. Besides May and Williams, Bobcats point guard Raymond Felton, who also left early after the 2005 season, has taken some correspondence courses. Holladay also is hopeful that Rashad McCants and Brandan Wright – the other players who have left early since Roy Williams became coach in 2003 – eventually will graduate, as well.

“When you've got youngsters thinking about going pro early, and they see guys like Marvin and Sean come back … I think it plants a seed that carries on, so it does nothing but help our program,” Holladay said. “Those are just special kids. I know they know about Vince Carter coming back, Antawn coming back, Michael Jordan coming back, J.R. Reid…”

Knowing that history, though, doesn't make rolling out of bed for a 9a.m. class easier now than it was three years ago, May and Williams agreed.

It has helped that they have been Chapel Hill roommates each summer since they turned pro – working out at the Smith Center each morning before schlepping to their respective classes, pushing each other to get their work and workouts complete.

The electronics in their apartment have been upgraded since they were full-time students (pro paychecks tend to do that), but the homework hasn't changed much, either.

“We were sitting there the other night,” May said, laughing, “and I was thinking, ‘Man, this is crazy. We're in the NBA, and Marv's writing flash cards.'“

When the Los Angeles Clippers used their salary-cap space in a trade for Denver's Marcus Camby, the big spenders in free agency seemingly were tapped out. That should help resolve the Emeka Okafor situation in Charlotte, though it's still an open issue.

Okafor is a restricted free agent, and the Clippers appeared the greatest threat to sign him to an offer sheet. The Bobcats intend to retain him and, having once made an offer of more than $12million a season, they haven't acted cheap.

This must play out, and while the Memphis Grizzlies have the cap room to pursue Okafor, I don't see that happening. It's probably a safe bet Okafor is here at least next season.

Signing the one-year qualifying offer is a real possibility – why wouldn't he take that risk to reach unrestricted free agency, if he already did so to reach restricted status? – but the Clippers using up their cap space can only be good news to Bobcats management.

Other observations

D.J. Augustin is the real deal.

It's always dangerous to place too much emphasis on summer-league numbers. A Charlotte Hornets second-rounder, Steve Scheffler, once ate up summer league, then struggled to get off a shot against real NBA players.

However, it's hard not to be impressed with Bobcats rookie point guard Augustin.

In Charlotte's first three games, he averaged 19.6 points, shot 56percent from the field and averaged seven trips to the foul line. For a 6-footer, he shows a striking ability to get to the rim or make someone foul him along the way.

He's not without flaws. Augustin seems to have too much confidence in his handle. Looking to split double-teams, he's averaging four turnovers per game.

He also doesn't have many assists (four total, compared to 32 shot attempts), but that's not necessarily his fault (more on that later).

The Bobcats have three young big men in Las Vegas – Jermareo Davidson, Alexis Ajinca and restricted free agent Ryan Hollins – and none excelled.

In fact, all three sat for most of the Warriors game Tuesday, giving time to smaller players.

Ajinca is the biggest investment, the Bobcats having used the 20th pick on him.

A columnist from Sports Illustrated is projecting Ajinca as a bust (nothing like snap judgment). He has a long way to go, but the Bobcats knew that when they drafted him.

I've seen enough at practice – the shooting, the passing, the ability to run the floor – to keep an open mind.

He won't be much of a factor this season, but they never expected him to be.

Much as Larry Brown would love to find his next George Lynch in Las Vegas, I don't hold much hope for spare parts looking for jobs on this summer roster.

Yes, Kyle Hines and James Mays hustle and rumble, but their games don't fit their bodies at the NBA level. Part of the reason Augustin has so few assists is because various teammates can't catch his passes and finish plays.

If I were Augustin, shooting 56percent and watching passes bobbled out of bounds, I'd take it to the rim, too.

Posey, a 6-foot-8 forward who last season helped the Boston Celtics win their first title since 1986, agreed Wednesday to a four-year, $25million contract with New Orleans, agent Mark Bartelstein said.

Posey also was part of the Miami Heat's championship squad in 2005-06. His record of playing a prominent reserve role on title-winning squads made him a top free-agent target for the Hornets.

The Celtics hoped to keep Posey, a 31-year-old veteran who has a reputation as a strong defender and who was periodically assigned to guard LeBron James and Kobe Bryant during the postseason.

Around the league

CHARLOTTE: A Pennsylvania woman who claims Michael Jordan fathered her son has been ordered to have a psychological evaluation and promise to comply with a court order.

Lisa Miceli of Meadville, Pa., is accused of violating a court order that barred her from contacting the former Chicago Bulls star, his family or his representatives.

Jordan, the Bobcats' managing member of basketball operations, sued Miceli this year to enforce a 2005 agreement that required her to stop contacting him after two DNA tests proved he wasn't the boy's father. Jordan's attorneys say Miceli violated the deal.

CLEVELAND: The Cavaliers signed guard Daniel Gibson to a five-year contract. Bringing back Gibson, a restricted free agent, was one of Cleveland's top priorities.

NEW YORK: Rookie Danilo Gallinari has a sore lower back and is listed as doubtful for the rest of the Las Vegas summer league.

Gallinari, a forward from Italy and the No.6 overall pick, was hurt during the Knicks' opener, a 97-94 victory Monday against Cleveland.

He didn't dress for New York's game against San Antonio on Wednesday.

Observer News Services

The Clippers used up most of their room under the salary cap, absorbing the $11.2million salary of Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby. The Nuggets, deep in luxury-tax territory, needed to reduce payroll, and accepted a second-round pick for Camby.

The Clippers previously had about $12million under the cap, and were a threat to sign Okafor, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet.

“It eliminates a scenario,” said Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins, while watching his team play a summer-league game against the Golden State Warriors. “Still, it was just more speculation from our standpoint.”

By and large, the NBA teams with significant cap room have used it: The Philadelphia 76ers signed Elton Brand, the Clippers added Baron Davis and Camby and the Warriors signed Corey Maggette and committing offer-sheet money to Lakers restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf.

Higgins repeatedly has said the Bobcats intend to keep Okafor. His agent, Jeff Schwartz, has been on his honeymoon, according to Higgins, but the two will be having discussions.

Last summer Okafor turned down an extension that would have paid him more than $12 million a season. If Okafor doesn't sign long-term with Charlotte, he has the option of signing a one-year qualifying offer that would make him an unrestricted free agent the summer of 2009.

Posey wants four-year deal

James Posey, the Celtics' highest-priority unsigned veteran, is seeking a four-year contract, an NBA source said.

Posey, 31, is treating negotiations as if this could be his final contract and has been in talks with Detroit, the Lakers, New Orleans, and Washington. No team has been willing to offer a deal beyond three years.

.

Gallinari learning the NBA is no Italian league

Danilo Gallinari was shaky, then strong, not brilliant but exceptionally resilient. He handled the ball like a point guard, shot like a shooting guard and got knocked around the paint like a still-maturing 19-year-old. He was, indeed, everything the Knicks expected when they drafted him last month.

Gallinari scored 14 points in his NBA summer league debut Monday, and showed he was a work in progress. He failed to score during the first half, missed his first five shots and collected five fouls in 30 minutes. But he made five of his final six shots, several from long distance, and showed the persistence that endeared him to the Knicks' front office.

“It kind of underlines what we kind of know,” coach Mike D'Antoni said. “He's a tough kid; he doesn't get bothered by stuff. We knew that. He's solid.”

D'Antoni cautioned that it was too soon to get excited, but said, “We're real pleased.”

.

“It's a completely different game,” Gallinari said, “and also the referees, they are different. I was just trying to figure out how it is.”

Love scores 18 in debut

Kevin Love had 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds in his debut in a loss for the Minnesota Timberwolves at the NBA summer league.

The fifth overall selection in last month's draft, Love committed four fouls – the same number of points he scored – during the first quarter. “I had to get the jitters out,” Love said. “I was shaking out there a little bit because it hadn't sunk in that I was a NBA player.”

Walton to have surgery

Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton will have surgery Friday to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, the team announced.

Dr. David Thordarson, an orthopedic surgeon out of the University of Southwen California, will perform the surgery in Los Angeles. Bone spurs can occur as a result of trauma or jamming in the joint and surgery normally is required to remove them.

Warriors sign Randolph

The Golden State Warriors signed first-round pick Anthony Randolph. Based on the league's rookie scale, he will make about $1.4million his first season. .

Observer News Services

The Golden State Warriors faced millions in NBA luxury tax, because of a bloated payroll. Jason Richardson was coming off a season of injury and another wing scorer, Monta Ellis, was emerging as the team's best young player. Ellis and center Andris Biedrins were going to demand big contracts in the coming years.

And there were the Charlotte Bobcats, with a burning need for a scorer and abundant salary-cap room to absorb Richardson's $11million-plus salary last season.

So it all came together on draft night 13 months ago, with the Bobcats shipping cap room and the eighth pick – former North Carolina forward Brandan Wright – to the Warriors. And that helps explain why Wright, a talented but skinny 6-foot-9 forward, in essence spent his rookie season in limbo on the Warriors' bench.

When he played, he was pretty good, averaging nine points and five rebounds in those nine games of 15 minutes or more. But coach Don Nelson couldn't afford to play a rookie while chasing the playoffs in a Western Conference so good that 48 victories didn't get them the eighth seed.

Now things are changing, and Wright – 20 years old, raw-boned and still with braces on his teeth – thinks he took the right course leaving the Tar Heels after a single season.

“When you're projected to go that high, how can you turn down your NBA dream? You can definitely change a lot of things about your family's life,” said Wright, who made about $2.3million last season.

Even back in March, when the Heels were making their Final Four run, and Wright was mostly sitting with the Warriors, there were no second thoughts.

“They were already a great team. They would have been the perfect team, I guess,” had he stayed, Wright said. “But I made the right decision, and they definitely did a great job. I expect them to win it next year.”

By then, he figures to be in Golden State's rotation. Richardson's departure for Charlotte proved to be the first of many changes. Point guard Baron Davis opted out of his contract and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. Then Mickael Pietrus, a forward who might have consumed some of Wright's playing time, left the Warriors for the Orlando Magic.

“Now we've got a really, really young team,” Wright said before Tuesday night's summer-league game against the Bobcats. “It's different. They need people to step up.”

The Warriors beat the Bobcats 99-93, with the Bobcats again giving away the ball. They finished with 27 turnovers.

Golden State forward Marco Belinelli finished with 30 points. C.J. Watson added 23 and Wright had 11.

Rookie point guard D.J. Augustin continues to shine for the Bobcats. He finished with 30 points off 9-of-14 shooting. He didn't have an assist, but he added six rebounds.

Late in the game, he put a tremendous move on Belinelli, up-faking him, drawing a foul and hitting the 17-foot basket.

Notes

Bobcats forward Jared Dudley sat out the game with back spasms, while Othello Hunter (Ohio State, Winston-Salem native) left the team for personal reasons. … Coach Larry Brown left Las Vegas, leaving the assistants in charge. … UNC Greensboro's Kyle Hines air-balled a free throw Tuesday, and barely grazed the rim on his second attempt. Hines was a 58percent foul-shooter in college.

That was Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown's message Monday, delivered during a vivid mid-practice lecture. He didn't like the body language of some of his players with guarantees, and chose not to wait for training camp to set the agenda.

“We have some guys who were drafted (by the Bobcats) or who've played a year in the league, and I want them to match the intensity of a Kyle Hines or a James Mays,” Brown said, referring to two players just hoping to be invited to camp in October.

“That's what our team has to be about: Ryan (Hollins) has to be about that, Jermareo (Davidson) has to be about that, Kyle Weaver, D.J. (Augustin) – all those guys we've drafted.”

Brown said he doesn't care who wins summer-league games, but he won't tolerate lack of effort and concentration. The Bobcats were sloppy Sunday during a two-point loss to the New Orleans Hornets, committing 23 turnovers.

Brown made sure to remind his players they had no steals to the Hornets' seven.

“It's a big thing with me; I'll take toughness and effort over talent anytime,” Brown said. “And when you find a guy with talent and that effort and toughness – a Michael Jordan, an Allen Iverson, a David Thompson, a Bobby Jones – that's when guys become special.”

Brown made sure to remind the others that Guillermo Diaz, an undrafted free agent, has practiced and played for a week with a stomach virus so bad he constantly runs off the court to vomit.

“I don't take that lightly,” he said. “You see a difference between him and some other guys.”

Assuming the Bobcats re-sign their restricted free agents, they'll have at least 12 guarantees (with a maximum roster of 15) entering training camp. Brown said those contract numbers won't define who does and doesn't play when the games count.

“Just because we have a guaranteed contract doesn't mean that guy has a guaranteed spot,” he said.

“I don't have any preconceived ideas on who will start. I would assume Raymond (Felton), (Gerald) Wallace, (Emeka) Okafor and (Jason) Richardson. And Sean (May), if he's healthy. But when we throw the ball up that first practice, I want everyone to feel he can earn the right to play. It's very important for a coach to get that across.

“When we pick the (regular-season) team, I believe if you have toughness and you provide effort, we'll find a place for you.”

“We're talking about an N.C. State guy, and I'm still saying nice things,” former Tar Heel Kuester joked. “He's that great a kid.”

And seemingly that good a prospect. Hickson looked spectacular during a 97-94 summer-league loss to the New York Knicks, with 26 points and nine rebounds.

He made 11 of 15 shots from the field and generated seven trips to the foul line. If that's indicative of his scoring at the next level, he'll be a steal by the Cavaliers with the 18th overall pick.

Hickson wasn't the least surprised by his quick impact.

“I wouldn't have come out if I didn't think I was ready, so nothing has really surprised me,” he said. “There are some things I need to improve, but that's all a progression.”

Those flaws, Kuester detailed, are conditioning and defense, but the Cavaliers can wait for that. Hickson is a low-post, back-to-the-basket scorer, and those are rare these days with every 6-foot-10 forward seemingly living to take 20-foot jump shots.

Hickson did most of his scoring off bank shots, baby hooks and put-backs (he had seven offensive rebounds). The Cavaliers knew he had moves, but they were surprised just how explosive he was heading to the rim.

He didn't look that way in a workout in Cleveland, but there was an explanation.

“He flew in on a red-eye (an overnight flight) after working out in Denver and the poor guy didn't have his legs,” Kuester said.

“To the credit of our scouts and (general manager) Danny Ferry, they already knew what they wanted. They targeted him right from the get-go and you saw some of the things that make him special today.”

While the moves were home-grown – Hickson had the basics of low-post scoring in high school – he found it invaluable that N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe spent a decade in the NBA.

“Everything he said was coming from the NBA perspective already,” Hickson said. “You wouldn't believe all the things I knew just from being around him that season.”